It's the year where EVERY primary matters!
Case in point: Michigan tonight! Mitt Romney had to win the state where his dad served as Governor, and he did. With two-thirds of the vote counted, former Gov. Romney (R-MA) had 39%; Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) 30%; and former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AR) 16%.
So three primaries or caucuses on the GOP side, and THREE different winners! The "free-for all" is shaping up, especially if we see former Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R-NY) and former Sen. Fred Thompson (R-TN) win some upcoming primaries, which they might. The GOP contest could soon be a "five-way" race.
The Democratic race remains a 3-person tug of war. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY); Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) and former Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) remain the only three viable candidates left. But tonight's Michigan primary was strictly a "beauty contest" (which Clinton won), since the delegates will be selected later.
So Nevada is there next BIG test for both parties, with Caucuses on Saturday. Here's the funny part, in the nation's gambling capitol. ALL MAJOR POLLING organizations are "passing" on Nevada! I know, rich with irony. Many have cited the 'polling' disaster in New Hampshire, as a reason for skipping Nevada.
But deep, deep, deep in the caves of the Internet I found two polls:
"Reno Gazette-Journal" (DEM): 32% Obama; 30% Clinton; 27% Edwards. So its CLOSE!
"Research 2000" (GOP): McCain 22%; Giuliani 18%; Huckabee 16%; Romney 15%; Thompson 11%. Close here too!
Why does Nevada matter? It's one of four key Western "toss-up" states! It could go either Democrat or Republican in November!
Now, on to the "race about Race!" Much has been made this week about the remarks and counter-remarks about "race" between the Clinton and Obama campaigns. It got ugly at times! Tonight on the MSNBC debate from Las Vegas.
Tonight Sen. Clinton said, "We both have exuberant and sometimes uncontrollable supporters," likely referring to her own husband and former President, as well as former BET-TV founder Robert Johnson III. Both Johnson and President Clinton made caustic comments about Obama, that some critics found racially offensive. Obama's campaign was also criticized for perpetuating story lines that fed the racially animosity. "They started saying things I would not say, " Obama said of his supporters and staff members.
Obama and Clinton both regretted the conflicts and promised to try and avoid them again, ironically on this the birthday of civil rights leader, Martin Luther King, Jr. Edwards, while not involved in the current political nastiness, nonetheless regretted it "having seen the pain, struggle and sacrifice up close," as a Southerner who grew up in the eight of the civil rights movement of the 1960's.
Speaking of the South: GOP voters will cast ballots this Saturday January 19th in the South Carolina primary, but Democratic voters hold their primary next Saturday, January 26th.
Its just another oddity, in an already odd political year!
Footnote: I attended today's 30th annual Martin Luther King Humanitarian Awards in Contra Costa County, and a number of the speakers mentioned the need to mend the Clinton-Obama racial rift. My good friend and classmate Rev. Charles Tinsley, was honored as the 2008 MLK Humanitarian of the Year. An honor well deserved for a man who is a true agent of change in this county. God Bless you Charles!
I'll be on KGO-AM 810 Radio tonight at 10pm PST, with Brian Copeland. They stream "live" on the Internet, so listen in, no matter where you are.
I'll be heading to Las Vegas Thursday for the Nevada Caucuses. More to come!
Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape in the new year.
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